In memory of young cyclist killed-14 tips to help cyclists and drivers coexist.
Over the weekend, a cyclist was struck from behind by an SUV while riding on South Lamar. Witnesses say the driver sped off, heartlessly leaving the cyclist, 24-year old Andrew Runciman, on the side of the road. Immediately after the accident, Andrew was taken to Brackenridge and was pronounced dead.
A friend who worked with Andrew at BazaarVoice told me the news right before I geared up for my evening bike commute from work. When I got home, I checked bike blog ATXBS to see if Jason had any news on the hit-and-run. Here’s what he posted:
Update: The following information from the Blotter was forwarded to me by a friend of the deceased, who was riding along with him at the time:
FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT:
On Saturday, April 23, 2011, at 11:44 p.m., Austin Police Officers responded to a serious injury crash in the 3500 Block of S. Lamar Boulevard.A preliminary investigation shows that the victim was riding his bicycle southbound on S. Lamar Blvd when a dark colored SUV, also traveling southbound, struck his bicycle and then left the scene. The victim is reported to have been traveling in the far right lane of S. Lamar Blvd.
He was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was pronounced deceased on Sunday, April 24, 2011 as a result of his injuries.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-8164. This case remains under investigation. This is the 17th fatality of 2011. At this time in 2010, there were 16 traffic fatalities
Dear god. I have no words.
—————————————
I haven’t seen any real news on this one yet but I just got my second report of this incident from someone who knows a bit about it, and this time around it included a name:
Not sure if you heard about this, been looking all over Google today, with nothing. This young gentleman http://andrewrunciman.com/ was the victim of a hit and run on South Lamar on Saturday/Sunday of this past weekend. He is no longer with us.
Thank you for the heads-up Greg. My thoughts go out to Andrew’s family and friends, and my anger is with whoever could hit a human being with their car and drive away.
Be safe out there ya’ll, and wear your helmets. Ride in peace, Andrew.
Many of y’all may know that my mode of transportation has been bicycle-only for the last 10 years. The whole ride home I was lost in thought, wondering what could have been changed to keep this young man from dying: Was the driver drunk? Was Andrew wearing a helmet? Was there a bike lane on that section of Lamar?
Photo of Andrew Runciman, the bicyclist killed in a hit-and-run off South Lamar on April 23rd, 2011 (photo from his blog).
Following the link to Andrew’s webpage and blog really shook me up even more. In his own words:
Andrew Runciman enjoys lots of things. Most of these things are quite generic. For instance, Andrew enjoys music (that’s rare), photography (who would have guessed?), beer (goodness, me I feel so ordinary in comparison), and video games (who IS this guy?).
He does, however, partake in some activities the general populous is a little less familiar with. These include (but are in no way limited to) bicycling, kayaking, canoeing, and exploring (hipster). He’s a pretty wonderful cook, specializing in Indian and Thai delicacies. He’s not too bad at Italian either. He has a pretty overwhelmingly tasteful collection of vinyls and a very underwhelming record player.
It breaks my effing heart when any bicyclist passes. But reading this plea from one of Andrew’s friends on Reddit and then looking at Andrew’s Facebook page pushed me over the edge.
Andrew would have turned 25 next month. He and I have mutual friends. That accident could have happend to me or any one of them.
[UPDATE:Andrew Runciman’s dad issues heartfelt plea; memorial ride Saturday to honor young cyclist.]
It’s easy to get pissed. It’s easy to be scared and stop cycling. But it’s just as easy to spread knowledge. So, in honor of Andrew and all the other cyclists who’ve died, here are 14 tips for drivers and cyclists. Hopefully it will lead to increased understanding and fewer of these tragic passings.
8 tips for Cyclists:
- Wear a helmet. I know it looks lame or messes up your hair-but that’s a lot sexier than a cracked skull. Believe me, wearing a helmet has saved my ass many a time.
- Take over the full lane when riding with traffic. It’s easy to be timid, but riding in the middle of the lane helps cars assess how to handle you. If you’re too far near the curb, drivers aren’t sure what to do, or they might accidentally clip you. Riding in the middle forces cars to use the neighboring lane to pass you. Plus, you have the legal right to use the full lane, so ride proud!
- Follow traffic rules. In San Francisco, I watched a car accidentally hit a cyclist because he honestly didn’t see the bike zooming through the intersection. But it’s not just about safety. When drivers see you respect the traffic laws, they respect cyclists even more.
- Use lights or reflectors. You may be able to see the cars, but they can’t always see you. I know bike lights can be expensive, but it’s nothing compared to the cost of your life.
- Stay calm. I admit, ten years ago I used to be a pretty aggro cyclist. I’ve yelled and spit on more drivers than I’d care to mention. But one day I realized that all the energy I was spending on getting angry was actually contributing to the problem. Yes, there are times when the driver deserves a yellin, but most of the time drivers are just unaware of cyclists or don’t know how to handle us. If we let things roll and approach it from a place of peace, we can actually build understanding.
- Wave and smile. Over the last 10 years, I’ve learned that a smile and a wave is the best way to spread the love between bicyclists and drivers. And waving at other cyclists also helps strengthen our own community. Try it. It’s infectious!
- Use the bike map. Even though I’ve riden in Berlin, San Francisco, and New York, I still get intimidated by a few Austin streets, so I find alternate routes using the Austin bike map [PDF]. These routes and lanes were chosen not just based on safety and traffic flow, but also ease of ride. Once you get to know the routes, you can plan accordingly-or just use Google’s new Bike routing feature on Google Maps!
- Go to bike socials and rides. When you’re first starting out, it’s easy to be intimidated by urban cycling. Joining a social ride is a great way to build confidence and skills while in the safety of a big group. We’ve got a ton of different types of bike rides that span a variety of different ages, genders and skill levels. The Thursday Night Social Ride is the largest, but there are others.
6 tips for Drivers:
- Be mindful of what you are operating. The average car weighs around 4000 pounds. The average bicycle weighs 30 pounds. All that metal on your car also helps protect you. Bicyclists are completely exposed. That’s a pretty dangerous ratio, especially when you factor gas and speed into the equation.
- Meet and exceed the 3-foot passing rule. In Austin, cars and light-weight trucks must give cyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users a 3-foot cushion when they pass [PDF]. The rule is 6 feet for regular trucks. That means entering the next lane completely before passing. But 3-feet isn’t that much distance, so try to give more.
- Take a deep breath. I know riding behind a cyclist can be annoying, but they can’t go any faster. No amount horn honking will make them physically able to pedal faster-especially going up a hill. Treat it like a slow-moving car or a bus: Instead of getting pissed, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. Besides, nothing will make you later to work than an accident.
- Don’t ride a cyclist’s ass. Cars have brakes that respond instantaneously. Bikes do not. That means when we are going down a hill, riding in fast traffic or biking in the rain, we can’t just stop. If you’re riding our ass, we may get smashed.
- Put the phone down. Calling or texting while driving distracts you. When you are distracted, you might not see that skinny hipster on the fixie.
- Go to bike socials and rides. Nothing will give you more respect for cycling than going to a bike social. It’s a great way to meet people AND you’ll understand what it’s like to try to pedal and look out for cars. The Thursday Night Social Ride is the largest, but there are others.
None of these tips are meant to point fingers or place blame; instead, I hope they increase the peace and strengthen understanding within our community. It’s also not meant to incite fear. Remember: There are more car-on-car accidents than there are car-on-bike accidents.
Life is short, y’all. Be kind to each other.
Andrew, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in peace, brother.
What tips would you share with other cyclists?
What tips would you share with drivers?
.
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So great recommendations except the first one about helmets. Bike helmets are tested at impacts equal to a pedestrian falling and have never been shown to protect you in a collision with a car. On the other hand, there is some pretty compelling data that shows wearing a helmet increases your chance of being hit by a car. I only mention this because the wearing or not wearing of a helmet has very little to do with surviving a car crash yet the helmet wearing status is always mentioned in these stories. This unfortunately creates a sense of “they had it coming” if the rider was not wearing a helmet. Basically, avoiding being hit should be our focus, not expecting a light piece of styrofoam to protect us from 2 tons of speeding steel.
This is another tragedy and I hope we can make our roads safer for all users.
Hi Elliott:
I understand where you’re coming from. Bicyclists shouldn’t rely solely on a helmet. We should def be alert.
At the same time, my former boss was a cyclist. He was hit by a car and was knocked backwards. When his head hit the pavement, he suffered brain injuries that put him into a coma. Had he not been wearing the helmet, he would have been dead.
Personally, I’ve had non-traffic-related accidents (like flipping over a rock on a trail or a really bad pothole, and my head would have been cracked had I not had a helmet.
Take it for what it’s worth. Imma continue to wear my helmet AND be alert
Here’s the problem: You do not know that would have been the result of him not wearing a helmet. They are not tested for that kind of impact. If people want to wear them, that’s fine, but I do object to endowing them with protective qualities they do not have.
The real issue is avoiding being hit by cars in the first place, and on that count I think helmets do more harm then good. First, there has been recent research that shows cars take less car around cyclists with helmets than those without. More importantly, the persistent selling of helmet wearing results in fewer people riding bikes. There is overwhelming evidence that the more people that are riding on the road, the safer it is to ride (i.e.- per capita accidents and deaths go down as the percentage of people cycling goes up.)
My point is that making roadways safer and getting more people riding has a real, pronounced impact on accidents and fatalities while helmets just make the individual feel safer.
I’m pretty sure my boss’s skull would have cracked had it taken the full force of the impact on the concrete. But I respect your opinion. Riding without a helmet just isn’t my thing.
You are right to mention that there are fewer bicycling accidents as more people ride. Ultimately, it’s about raising awareness with the drivers-and also building roadways safer.
Thanks for commenting!
Chris, the plural of anecdote is not data. Your one experience doesn’t prove much.
The facts show that a cyclist wearing a helmet is more likely to be involved in an accident. Maybe the helmet is responsible for your boss being alive today, but the helmet may also have contributed to him being in the accident in the first place.
We see similar results for cars and seat belts. Drivers wearing seat belts drive faster and take more recklessly. They compensate for the increased sense of safety by taking more risks. It makes sense that a cyclist wearing a helmet feels safer, and therefore takes bigger risks. You boss might have paid more attention and slowed down if he wasn’t wearing his helmet in the first place. While the overall result of seatbelts is that lives are saved, the same isn’t shown to be true for helmets. If you’re hit by a car, odds are that you are not going to land directly on your head, so the helmet offers no real protection. For the rare occasions that it does protect you, it increases your likelihood of being in an accident in the first place.
tl;dr - Good science suggests you are safer without a helmet because you wont feel as safe. That’s good. If you feel less safe, you’ll be more careful, and the cars around you will too.
Actually, Noah, he was hit while standing on his bike at a light.
Data, to me, is as subjective as personal experience. You guys are discussing a helmet’s efficacy in an accident with a car. What about when your chain jumps and you get thrown off your bike? Or when you don’t see a pot hole or slide on some wet pavement? All of these have happened to me-and without a helmet, I would have been toast. Not wearing a helmet wouldnt have prevented any of those accidents from happening.
A helmet is just as much a curse as it is a talisman. Wear it if you want. Don’t wear it if you don’t want. All it takes is one accident.
Hey Elliot,
Coming from a family of Firefighter/EMTs, I have to ABSOLUTELY disagree with you. Whether or not the data supports various impact scenarios, having any kind of protection on your head is a good thing. I respect your opinion but I couldn’t disagree more. I have heard the same kind of arguments about motorcycle helmets as well and it just simply isn’t true.
~N
Natchet, data trumps anectdotes - and the data from the population as a whole shows bike helmets don’t provide any head injury protection AT ALL. None. Zero. Zilch. Given that they apparently make motorists pass you more closely, they are, in fact, on balance, a net negative.
There are actually many studies that prove the opposite, M1EK. I definitely recommend that you look them up. Helmets have most definitely been proven quite effective for lower impact energy accidents.
I am totally not getting into an argument as to whether or not your SHOULD or SHOULD NOT wear a helmet. I just don’t want people to be misinformed.
~N
Natchet, those are the case-control studies to which I referred. They predicted a benefit which did not show up in the population as a whole - so in fact, they have NOT been proven effective (population studies must confirm results from case-control studies for the conclusions to be valid).
Turns out the case-control studies largely had selection bias problems. The most infamous one, source for MOST helmet statistics, occurred in Seattle - and at the time, people who wore helmets were disproportionately wealthy suburbanites, and people who did not were disproportionately poor youth. The suburbanites were more likely to go to the hospital with scrapes and bruises, the poor folk would stay at home unless an obviously serious injury had resulted.
See the problem with drawing conclusions from people who were seen at the ER given those characteristics?
http://depts.washington.edu/hiprc/practices/topic/bicycles/helmeteffect.html
Thanks for sharing! This rocks.
Weird, M1KE,
It won’t let me reply to you… But to honest, I cannot believe I am having a (and I use the term very loosely) “rational” debate about wearing a helmet. Seems ludicrous to me.
I was worried about people being misinformed by all of this, but I think I will just let common sense rule the day… and I think it will. Thanks for commenting.
Natchet,
I don’t think you can compare motorcycles and bicycles. Bicycles cannot go anywhere near the speed of a motorcycle, and motorcycle helmets are engineered and tested differently.
Helmet use is emotional, and it feels good to have something to put on for some people. That’s fine, but it should not be misconstrued as proof that they are effective in impacts with automobiles. The statistical data and the way they are tested do not show this level of protection.
Cyclists do not have a cage of steel around them so avoiding any collision is much more important then worrying about what will happen if you are hit. If that is the primary objective, helmets do not help, they at best have no effect and more than likely increase the chance of being hit.
Right on. I see where you are coming from but this isn’t all entirely anecdotal. I am not merely talking about getting in a 72 MPH accident with a motor vehicle. Many accidents aren’t high speed slams. I have quite a bit of experience with this unfortunately.
My mom was protected by a short fall into a curb off of her bike. A very low speed accident really, except her head collided with the pavement. Her head was fine. The helmet, not so much. The helmet protected her head. Uh, Fact.
I myself have had similar impacts. I don’t like wearing helmets really but they’ve also protected me from taking quite a wallop on the head.
I know you guys think you have some solid data there, but I believe it is seriously flawed. In the end, we all do what we want, but take it from someone who’s actually seen (and felt) these protective devices do their job, they are a good thing.
~N
Natchet, data can’t be flawed - only the processes that generated it (or the conclusions one draws from it).
Key is that in EVERY country where this has been studied in significant detail, large increases in helmet usage among the general population have NOT resulted in any detectible change in serious head injury trends. Not a single one. We have a dozen or two contrary data points that show that they don’t work.
It really should only have taken ONE such large population study (that’s all it would have taken if helmets were, say, a prescription drug that had shown great promise in a case-control study but then didn’t show any good results in the population). But because it sits on your head, people think it’s magic.
And the stuff you talk about is all anectdotes, and your logic is flawed to boot - again, just because you hit something with your head, wore something on your head, and didn’t die, doesn’t mean the thing on your head helped you in any way, shape, or form. I ran my head into real estate signs as a kid (the hanging kind) - suppose I always wore a ballcap and never died (obviously). Should I assume the ballcap saved my life? Of course not; as it turns out, you’d have to repeat the same collision a bunch of times, both with and without the hat, to even begin to draw a conclusion with any validity. Turns out that’s what the population studies have done, essentially, and their conclusions are UNIVERSALLY the same: helmets don’t do shit.
So wear one, if you want to, but please, for the love of god, don’t convince yourself it’s helping you - otherwise risk compensation (and the aforementioned motorist behavior recently observed in a study on passing behavior) will make you much worse off.
The thinking behind induced risk taking has been refuted numerous times. By it’s logic, installing deadly spikes in the center of the steering wheel or on top of the handlebars would make people be even more safe, since they are “unprotected”. The fact is that most accidents are the result of mistakes. Mistakes are more likely when people are engaged in risky behavior, but nearly all accidents could be avoided and mistakes can happen in the simplest of situations. Helmets provide protection from your head hitting the pavement, reducing the negative effects of the mistake.
Thank you! Finally some common sense
Wow. You know how to put it so simply. Thanks.
~N
William, IF helmets provided MORE protection than the risk compensation took away, your statement would be true, but they empirically do NOT - given that population-wide head injury rates in a dozen countries (including the US) showed no detectible benefit from large-scale increases in helmet usage.
I was riding my road bike and got chased by a dog. As I sprinted the dog plowed into my rear wheel. Down I went. My arm hit first, then my head, and finally my hip. It was a hard impact. Urine test showed some blood in it. Oh and I cracked my helmet open. I dont know what the helmet did for me that day. But I do know it did nothing but help me. If I can do something small to protect myself then I will. Gloves and a helmet for me. And when I wear a helmet it doesnt make me ride carelessly. It reminds me that I can get killed doing this. So I take it seriously enough to do something to protect myself.
also…I didnt sign my name into the “a helmet saved my ass” registry. So my vote wont be tallied. No wonder the data shows helmets do nothing. Collectng unbiased data must be impossible. How man bike wrecks are reported when the cyclists licks their wounds and go home. And then buy a new helmet?
The one and only one time I ever had a wreck on my bike on the road as an adult, I skidded across pavement on my bare, hairy, chest. Some of the hair got ripped off as a result. Did that hair save my life? It had to have helped, right?
I didn’t sign the “my hairy chest saved my ass” registry either.
M1EK,
Now you’re just being silly.
No, Natchet, it’s the same exact ‘logic’. Something got broken/ripped off, so it must have helped/saved my life.
Chris,
While I’ve never met Andrew, I’m immediately distraught hearing this news. I feel a kinship with cyclists and am deeply saddened every time I read about a fatality at the hands of a motorists.
I’ve been on both sides of this. I’ve been hit by a car while biking, and I’ve been yelled at and spat at by aggressive cyclists that don’t like my driving. Thanks for posting the tips for both motorists and cyclists. We all have to do our part.
Hey Matt! thanks for stopping by. You’re right: It’s all about coexisting peacefully, brother!
APD Vehicular Homicide Unit can be reached at 512-974-8164.
If anyone has any (ANY) information, please call APD and let’s get this driver behind bars.
Thanks for posting, David. And folks, if your neighbor’s dark SUV has a dent or blood on it-or they were acting suspicious on Sunday….
There is no bike lane on that stretch of South Lamar. Even with the bike lanes further north, S. Lamar remains one of the most dangerous roads for cyclists in the city, and South Austin in general has been ignored by all the cool new bike lanes and thoroughfares going up around Austin.
Instead of taking that part of South Lamar, I encourage all cyclists to take the Banister - Garden Villa - S. 5th route instead. It’s a little out of the way, but it’s much safer and motorists are less aggressive (motorists routinely spit, shout, intentionally swerve dangerously close, and throw things from their car at cyclists on South Lamar).
Thanks for the tip, Todd. South 1st and South Lamar are (to me) the 2 most dangerous streets in South Austin. When heading South, I usually go up Bouldin (less steep incline) then hit S 5th around Mary. What will it take to get the city to build better bike lanes in South Austin? Somebody should build some fancy condos or a new hotel-maybe then we’d get the nice stuff
Todd, that’s a great tip for cyclists in the area (I am usually too afraid to ride on any busy streets in my ’04 neighborhood).
Unfortunately for Andrew, he was riding home and lived a block South on Lamar from where he was hit (he often rode to places near his home e.g. Red’s porch, etc). We are all saddened by his loss and I only hope that this tragic event will increase awareness between drivers and cyclists alike that we need to be aware of each other and, more importantly, be polite.
So tragic. Thank you for the additional insight. Breaks my heart.
Such a sad story! Thanks for the tips.
I would also advise drivers to check the right sideview mirror before taking a right turn, just in case there’s a cyclist there! Likewise, it’s helpful if cyclists who are in the right lane going straight remember to stay to the left side at intersections. I’ve seen too many near-misses when cars turns right without any warning!
I’d like to share a tip that has been extremely helpful to me. It’s simple and easy and has saved my face more times than I’d care to think about.
When you ride, ride as if you are invisible.
That’s it. Adopt the mindset of being 100% invisible to all motorists. Now, you are are thinking of and planning for the absolute worst thing that a car can do, always.
Let’s be safe.
~N
That’s def a great tip, brother. I like to imagine that I’m riding with buffalos.
Natchet,
I have a similar strategy that I use when riding my scooter. I assume that every car on the road is trying to kill me, and ride accordingly.
Kim
That’s the worst possible strategy, actually, because you won’t see a car someday that you’ve tried very much to make not see you either.
The best strategy is to be predictable, ride with traffic, and make SURE the cars SEE YOU, because most of your safety is in their hands. Your ability to somehow swerve around cars doing bad things is vastly overrated, as is the danger from overtaking traffic; but if you react to that by hopping on and off sidewalks, running red lights, and many other tactics the “ride as if you’re invisible” crowd often resort to, you are, in fact, at much higher danger than just being the boring but highly visible dude in the middle of the lane.
I think what Natchet means, Mike, is that cyclists should be cautious and ride as though cars don’t see them, basically doing whatever it takes to be seen. Don’t think he meant be invisible and go camo style.
Yeah, that’s pretty much what I meant, M1EK. Ride lawfully. Be flashy with as many lights and colors as you can… but STILL pretend that they still can’t see you. I didn’t mean to blend in and actually try to be invisible.
Kinda like Kim said. Think like they’re out to get you. Expect them to do the worst thing possible and have an out ready.
I guess I should have said, “Drive defensively”.
Does that make more sense?
The “ride as if you are invisible” is definitely not meant to be taken literal. You should make sure that you are seen, eye contact with drivers when they are looking to turn in front of you, making sure cars aren’t rolling through stop signs in neighborhoods, and taking the whole lane so they know you are there is more of what riding like you are invisible means. Being completely unpredictable, be it in a car or on a bike, is never a good strategy for avoiding accidents.
Exactly. Thanks, Paul.
~N
Unfortunately, if I was “riding as if I was invisible”, the first thing I’d do is not take the lane — if the cars can’t see you, you don’t want to be where the cars are.
If I was truly invisible and riding in traffic, I’d be run over from behind in minutes.
Personally, I go for “aware, predictable and visible” rather than “assume they can’t see me”.
This! This! This!
This is what I tell all my new cyclist friends, because quite frankly you ARE invisible to a lot of distracted drivers and you never know who is distracted.
I am saddened by the loss of any life, but as a driver and a motorcycle rider, I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have seen cyclists ignore the rules of the road at their own peril.
I just wanted to bring to everyone’s attention that if motor vehicles have to share the road with cyclists, then cyclists need to observe and obey the rules of the road just as all motor vehicles do. Nothing infuriates myself, and I’m sure many other motor vehicle drivers out there as well, than a cyclist taking up a whole lane on the road, and then blowing right through a stop sign or red light without nary a second thought.
Just as there are plenty of “cagers” that have awful attitudes, I have experienced plenty of cyclists with those same attitudes.
Again, I am saddened at the loss of life and I sincerely hope that the criminal is caught and appropriately punished as soon as possible — someone with such a callous disregard for life does not deserve to be free.
I hope that you do not take offense to this as it is certainly not meant to offend. I do hope that everyone, cagers and cyclists alike, take heed and remember that the rules of the road apply to ALL who wish to share the road.
RIP Andrew.
No offense taken, Mike. Obeying the rules is one of the tips listed. I think it’s all about raising awareness across the board. As more cyclists are on the roads, more cars will see them. It will also help socialize cyclists with each other, too.
Thanks for stopping by!
You are absolutely correct, Mike. And as a cyclist, I take no offense.
The rules of the road apply to all who use it. Chris is on it. It’s all about awareness. Just like the motorcycle/bicycle campaigns say, “Share the Road”. Be aware. We’re all out there, going places.
~N
Mike,
As an avid cyclist and triathlete I completely AGREE. And it really ticks me off when I see cyclists ignore the rules of the road because it makes riding more dangerous for me.
And from a lot of “cyclist hate” that I see I have determined that the negative impact of one cyclist running a red light or cutting a car off far exceeds any positive impact that might be gleaned from a cyclist following the rules of the road (quite frankly, no one even notices when you catch someone doing something right) and spills over to when a cyclist creeps through a stop sign when the coast-is-clear without harming anyone.
So yes, all cyclists please obey the rules of the road for the sake of your fellow cyclists!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen cars break the law as well and almost kill me while on my bike or in my own car. It’s hot outside, I’m tired cycling on sizzling pavement, and I want to get home ASAP. Don’t fault me for moving easily through traffic when it makes the most sense.
What does this have to do with anything? There is no evidence that Andrew was breaking any traffic rules.
Besides, what does what you’re saying mean for how many motorists speed, fail to signal, merge dangerously, or roll through Stop signs?
Seriously, this quote:
“cyclists need to observe and obey the rules of the road just as all motor vehicles do”
REALLY?
Hey Chris,
Tragedy. I’ve been thinking lately about what it means to be a cyclist in this town and how it’s changed the way I ride. I’ve been riding bikes almost from the moment I could walk. I was a huge BMX kid and use to race in competitions all over the US.
Even though I’m comfortable on a bike, I’m not that comfortable becoming part of the commuter traffic even though the city has allowed for that with dedicated lanes.
The biggest thing I have learned about commuter biking is that you have to own it. Get in a bike lane and own it. Tell yourself that you are not just cycling, you are commuting! Obey laws and haul ass. You’re not on the sidewalk anymore.
Hey bud! Thanks for stopping by.
Completely agree. You really have to own it and get in the right mind. Feel as big as a car, but with the knowledge that you’re not. Each morning, I’m like that dude walking into the factory, just a working stiff trying to get to his job and punch in.
Thank you for this article, dear. So sad. I hope lot of people read those tips, and heed them!
lovelovelove,
A.
<3 U. Thanks for sharing <3
For cyclists - obey traffic laws. Inearly killed at least one of you running a stop sign at night. Speaking of, make yourselves visible at night. Same person I almost killed was in all dark clothing and had no lighting on his/her bike or person.
For drivers - patience. You’re going to get where you’re going. You will get a chance to safely pass the cyclist, probably in less that five minutes. That five minutes may seem like an eternity, but it’s better than sendind a cyclist off into eternity because you’re driving like an impatient ass or being vengeful at a minor inconvenience in your self-imposed time table.
Nothing here that’s not really covered above, but I see poor and unsafe behavior on both sides practically every day. Relax and realize these are fellow human beings. There’s already plenty of mis-directed and useless anger going around - this one’s just stupid.
Well said, Brit.
I ride my bike to work every day and am so saddened by this news. I find that drivers often have a lot of hostility towards bicyclists, which is scary and frustrating for those of us that are careful and follow the rules. The best way I’ve found to combat hostility from drivers is to be super aware when I’m riding and to look for drivers’ eyes. As soon as I get eye contact with a driver, I see their shoulders relax and the hostility drain out of their face. It helps to remind each other that we’re all just people.
Eye contact! That’s a great suggestion, Becky. We are, indeed, all human. Breakthrough the cold windshield and make the human contact.
oh wait, unless you’re Critical Mass, in which case:
1) Fuck a helmet.
2) Take over the full lane, highway, road, overpass, whatever the fuck you feel like!
3) Break EVERY traffic rule. Cut off cars, run red lights. You’re on a bike, so fuck it, you can!
4) Use lights or reflectors? It’s their job to see ME
5) Be as AGGRESSIVE as possible. You’re not doing it right if you aren’t getting the finger or leaving dents in cars.
6) Scream and lecture people
7) Use the bike map? We write the fucking bike map
Come on, can a get a second to the fact that all these idiots do is make drivers hate bikers and have zero patience and sympathy with them?
1) Helmets are shown to make a cyclist more likely to be in an accident. See other comments.
2) A cyclist has the right to use the full lane.
3-7) I see cars break traffic rules and act like dicks all the time. Don’t paint everyone with the same brush.
Helmets are also shown to be protective in other cases.
No, they fundamentally are not. In actual population studies, they show zero benefit. The initial case-control studies that showed large benefit have been proven to be flawed in sample selection at a bare minimum.
Way to increase the peace and understanding, Rachel.
Rachel has a point. I’ve been on plenty of these rides. I’ve stopped going because too many people hate on motorists and some cyclists act like the motorists have no business on the road. We shouldn’t forget that a substantial portion of funding for roads comes from motorists. Please people, follow the rules of the road! If you don’t you are disrespecting motorists the same way some motorists disrespect cyclists.
The anti-helmet spouting going on here is irresponsible. I’ve seen people hit a rock the wrong way and end up hitting their head on the ground and were either protected by a helmet or not and got concussions. Helmets aren’t just for the OMG THAT CAR JUST HIT THE SHIT OUT OF ME moments. A car is more likely to hit me for wearing a helmet? That study is about averages and isn’t subjective. Maybe situations where people are wearing helmets are naturally more dangerous anyway, like crazy races or mountain biking. But riding in the city with potholes, manholes covers sticking up, and rocks everywhere? Helmets FOREVER.
Heather, the population studies have shown no benefit at all from vast increases in helmet use. At this point, were it any other product (say, for instance, a prescription drug), it’d be getting pulled from the market and re-evaluated in detail.
I’m not sure who’s the bigger asshole: an arrogant biker on Critical Mass, or the nut who pulled the handgun on Critical Mass from his huge 4×4 at a Critical Mass on 5th Street last spring, after he knocked a rider off her bike with his truck. Assholes are everywhere.
Wow! Helmet flame war going on above!
Chris,
Thanks for sharing this story. It’s important that we know about such stories in our community. This is such an unfortunate accident and my prayers go out to Andrew’s family.
Lauren
Hahahaha totally.
This argument has been going on in the bicycle world for years.
~N
This is a wonderful post. All your points were perfect.
I would like to add that recently a social ride (not sure which one) was going down E. Cesar Chavez and groups of 10+ people were not obeying the traffic laws. It’s bad enough when one person makes cyclists look bad, but when you have 10+ people doing it together it just makes drivers angry and endangers other cyclists lives because drivers may not be concerned the next time they see a cyclist on the road.
Please, if you are in any social rides and you see people not obeying the traffic laws speak up. It’s not a matter of not looking cool for saying something. It’s a matter of safety for all cyclists.
This is sad, but a great write up.
I just moved here from Philadelphia and have to admit I fear my life every time I ride through Austin (which is almost daily). I’ve been riding for 7 years now and coming from a flat grid like city with stop signs and red lights every 60ft. you tend to break all traffic rules. In crews of 3+ you feel pretty safe doing it too. (Austin riding is a different story)
I’m not sure what happend to the civil disobedience of group rides in Austin, but obeying ‘traffic’ laws in larger groups is counter productive. I refuse to accept I’m part of ‘traffic’. Until we wake up our local politicians (which, if anyone can give me any info on this - austin’s bike advocacy etc. - i’m still new to the bike community here and would appreciate it) and bikes are equal in American infrastructure - traffic laws will continue to be written with cars at top priority. I break them all the time. With kindness & love. ESPECIALLY in groups. Here’s to never unclipping or footdown: http://tinyurl.com/3werou8
For realz. There are not enough dedicated commuters in Austin to make people realize the whole point of riding a bike in the city is to get places faster and more efficiently than a car can. They also don’t have the live and let die attitude of a big city in which, as long as your not endangering others, people mind their own business and don’t care if you do things they deem unsafe. Check your 6 though, cops down there have it out for cyclists.
Ryan, get to know the Yellow Bike Project if you want to advocate for bicycles around Austin… http://austinyellowbike.org/
Enough with “cyclist don’t obey the law” garbage? If cyclist breaks the law and makes drivers mad, does that justify killing them? I mean really, let’s put some common sense around breaking the law. Does that mean I can run other drivers off the road if they don’t signal?
Cyclists SHOULD obey traffic laws because it makes it safer for everyone, but if they don’t, they’re just like everyone else on the road…
Amen, brother.
I think the only rule of the road the really applies to both cars and cyclists is one that has been neglected here: always pass on the left. When special rules were made for cyclists to ride on the right it was a bunch a car-driving legislator who assumed cars would always be moving faster. Cars make much harder rights than lefts and don’t check their mirrors for a right turn. I feel much safer splitting the lane, even splitting the yellow than I do getting between a moving car and a curb or parked car.
I also tend to disregard what cops and motorists tell me is the appropriate way to ride. The 3 times I’ve been hit, I was riding predictibley down the right side, obeying the law. Remember, traffic laws were righten for CARS. The only reason we are supposed to behave the same way is because there have never been enough cyclists in the legislature to write a comprehensive bike law. Of course, that didn’t stop them for making exceptions that hinder us to make driving a car more convenient.
The most important thing is to learn how to read traffic and predict motorist’s moves. Once you can do that you can tell everyone else to fuck off, and ride in whatever manner makes you feel most comfortable. Motorists don’t really care you are breaking the law, they’re just jealous they can’t too.
Unfortunately there is nothing you can do (other than being as visible as possible, obviously), that is to say skill/action-wise, to prevent being rear-ended, which seems to be the most common car-on-bike collision in Austin. Poor kid.
Geeze. I just got through commenting on a post on FB someone put about the blog. They blamed the cyclist in SF for causing the wreck by blowing through the light, saying it wasn’t an accident. My comments back:
God speed, Andrew.
That’s semantics. Yes, the cyclist “caused” the wreck, but by definition it was an accident. The driver certainly didn’t hit the cyclist on purpose. And I’d say the writer is absolutely writing from the driver’s point of view by advising cyclists to obey traffic laws. Yeah…cyclists break laws. Have you EVER run a red light in your car? Or as a cyclist, have you ever come .08 seconds from flying over the hood of someone’s car who sped up to turn into a parking lot directly in front of you? The whole point of the blog is to be safe, whether you’re driving or cycling. And if you missed that, I hope I’m wearing my helmet, obeying all traffic laws, and you’re not texting when you drive up behind me.
My boyfriend & I just started cycling around a lot. I live off S. Lamar, and I hate riding on it. We try to take alternate routes. Wear a helmet or don’t - it’s your head. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. My boyfriend doesn’t wear one - he survived a motorcycle wreck without one, so good freaking luck convincing him he should wear one. Bottom line: just pay attention to what you’re doing, whether you’re cycling or driving. And for God’s sake, please DO NOT TEXT while you’re driving.
Biking is great for getting around instead of a car, exercise and doing good with the environment. The problems are many with sharing the road with motorized vehicles. One is they can’t go fast enough to keep up with traffic, no bike lane causes problems for both driver and cyclist. However, there is the sidewalk when no bike lane is available…this just causes the biker to look out for driveways and pedestrians. but keeps them out of traffic and safer. Weaving in and out of traffic, running lights and other traffic violations is commonly seen. If you ride a bike, obey traffic rules. They apply ALL the time not sometimes the rules for cars, other times for pedestrians as that could get you in trouble with an accident. Drivers need to pay attention to cyclists and so many other things going on while operating heavy machinery…it can be deadly.
Bebe is wrong. Cyclists, DO NOT RIDE ON SIDEWALKS. Not only is this dangerous for you and pedestrians, it is ILEGAL.
Not every sidewalk in Austin is illegal for bicycles. Along the north-bound MoPac access road between 360 and Bee Caves, the sidewalk is designated as bicycle friendly, and as someone who lives in the area and takes that route everyday, I find that it’s MUCH safer to ride on the sidewalk rather than the 2-lane, 50-mph access road with no bike lane.
And what about riding on south-bound N. Lamar between 38th and Enfield? That sidewalk is legal for bicycles, and MUCH safer than riding on a busy 2-lane street with no bike lane.
There is also the Lance Armstrong Bike Trail that parallels Cesar Chavez between MoPac and S. 1st, and though technically not a sidewalk, it looks like one and is MUCH safer than actually using Cesar Chavez. I saw someone riding down Cesar Chavez the other day, with the Lance Armstrong Trail to their left, and the Hike-And-Bike Trail to their right. It’s like they were trying to put themselves in harms way.
The attitude of owning the road and having to be on the road can make you miss safer, 100% legal alternatives like certain sidewalks/bike paths around town.
I knew some biker would eventually say that riding on the sidewalk is illegal.
That is total misinformation and terribly dangerous advice too. Use the sidewalk. It’s perfect for bikes. How many bikers have been killed or injured on sidewalks?
There are, in Travis county only a VERY VERY FEW sidewalks on which you cannot ride a bike or a skateboard. And those that you cannot ride a bike or a skateboard on are VERY CLEARLY MARKED AS SUCH. They are mostly on Congress in the heart of downtown, and on some private and state owned land, like the Capital, some hospitals, and some schools, some larger businesses, etc…
For crying out loud. PLEASE USE the sidewalks and stop saying that they are illegal for bikes. That is an outright and dangerous LIE!
How many times have we seen a biker slowing down traffic on Lamar, and elsewhere, when there is a perfectly good sidewalk mere feet away, right there, for them to use.
Besides hit a pedestrian and you’ll both more than likely walk away, hit a car? Not so much walking away from that. More limping and bleeding involved with those collisions.
Bret,
Last I checked, roads were around centuries before the advent of the automobile. So to say that automobiles are the only things allowed on roads…
I myself have actually seen 2 similar accidents where a cyclist was hit by a motorist because the cyclist was riding on the sidewalk. The driver looked both ways on the road, pulled out, but didn’t see the cyclist on the sidewalk.
The rationale of having to somehow choose between hitting a pedestrian or a car is not a valid argument. I choose neither. That’s why I ride on the road, where I am supposed to ride. A sidewalk is not a sideride.
The bottom line is that roads are for cars, trucks, bikes, motorcycles, etc. We have to share. I always use the full lane (when I don’t have a bike lane) and I will NOT ride on sidewalks. I do try to plan my routes so that I have a bike lane as much as I can.
It may be slower, but just relax. Instead of wishing the cyclist rode on that sidewalk “a few feet away” where he or she can mow down pedestrians instead of inconveniencing you, wish that the city would put in more bike lanes. Then, we can be as slow as we want and you can wave at us instead of flipping us off. Heh.
Turns out, bikes do have as much a right to the roads as cars do:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/10/ray-lahood-bicyclists-hipster_n_860100.html
http://bicycleaustin.info/laws/
That is awesome! Good find.
This just shows how backward Austin really is and not the progressive mecca everyone makes it out to be. Almost every major city in the country has made it illegal to ride on ALL sidewalks. This is because it has been very well documented as the most dangerous place to ride a bike. Cars are not looking for people moving at those speeds off the road so when the pull out of an alley, stop in the crosswalk, pull into a driveway, or turn right on a cross street- BAM SON!
Sidewalks are very dangerous unless you are riding less than 5mph, in which case, what’s the point? You may as well just walk.
Plus its hazardous to pedestrians.
Agreed. I am no Lance Armstrong or Brandon Smith by any means, but I am fast. It would be an extremely bad idea for me to ride on a sidewalk.
I ride a road bike. Not a sidewalk bike.
Heh.
My friend works with a woman who was quoting as saying “i’m going to hit the next cyclist that gets in my way” friend tried to explain to her that her actions would most definitely take someone’s life, if not alter it forever. People like that worry me, but I ride my bike anyway.
I wear a helmet, carry a back up headlamp, take up the whole lane, and only curse at drivers after they’re done cursing at me.
I commute to work, and bike often- and am always surprised to see cyclist with headphones on. being aware of the noise around you is pretty important when considering your safety.
Cars, bikes, pedestrians…we should all keep our eyes and ears open.
*quoted
Totally agreed. We’re all going places. Let’s just look out for each other and make sure everyone gets there in one piece.
Wow we have a few real anti-helmet crusaders…Quoting all kinds of anti helmet rhetoric. I thought this attitude was limited to my recreation, motor biking. When I read articles here
http://www.bhsi.org/stats.htm
They don’t seem to back up all the anti helmet rhetoric.
Nice find. I’ve given up on trying to convince ‘em. I just figure that common sense will prevail.
My brother was killed in a similar cycling accident in 1979 when he was 17. A fellow classmate struck him from behind when she leaned over to pick up something that had fallen off the passenger seat of her truck. His death destroyed my family. It destroyed her also, physically (she is still alive today, wheel-chair bound with many physical problems)-maybe because she could never come forward and say she was sorry to my family? We would have forgiven her and maybe our family would have come through it.
My prayers go out to his family that they can pull through this tragedy-my prayers go out to the driver that he/she will fess up if there’s any ounce of compassion in his/her body. The memories of this accident will haunt him/her forever and may physically destroy them like the girl who hit my brother. Compassion or living in physical Hell daily? Make the right decision.
I am Andrew’s dad. I can’t tell you the pain we are going through. Andrew was a special human being. We home schooled him through primary grades and he went to a liberal arts high school. He had vast interests in ancient history, Latin, art, math, music, graphics arts and of course computer programming. The world has lost an incredible human being.
He just moved to Austin in September and did not have the money to move his bike or his helmet. Just weeks ago he had enough money to buy a bike but he did not have a helmet yet, but I don’t think a helmet would have helped. He was hit with such force he was probably dead at the scene except for modern medicine and mechanical ventilation. I think a helmet would have made it worse. He would have ended up as a vegetable or a quadriplegic.
Austin, we need to catch the person that did this?
And we need to change the structure of transportation in this country. Andrew and I traveled to Europe and we saw the bike lanes separated from motorized traffic. We both wondered why can’t this be done in the USA. Bike lanes don’t work. You must have a separate roadway for bikes. When will we ever learn in this country.
My wife and my daughter will live on but we will never be the same again without the presence of Andrew.
Hi Tom,
I only met your son briefly, but he was a gem and will be missed. Please accept my condolences. We will be thinking about you and yours in this time of grief.
-Susan Sharp
Tom,
I am so sorry for your loss. Hearing about this ripped my heart out.
Hi Tom:
Thanks for stopping by. I’ve struggled with the right way to respond, but all I can come up with is that my heart goes out to you, your family and Andrew’s friends.
I’ve learned this week that Andrew and I had many mutual friends. I’m sad I never got a chance to meet him. He sounds like he was an incredible human being.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
Best,
Chris
Dear Tom,
I just read your letter about your son and your devestating loss. I never met your son, but I believe pain and heartache connect us all as human beings. My brother died suddenly four years ago, so sit here with tears in my eyes feeling for you, your wife and your daughter. Know that many - those you know and do not know - are sending you thoughts and prayers to carry you through the very tough moments ahead.
Love to your family,
Barb
This sucks so much. I only met Andrew once. He came to my apartment and I gave him homebrewed mead and we made a drink called the Norwegian 75 with it. We talked about bikes, and he complimented mine. It’s so sad that we are still losing kind souls to aggressive driving. I hope the person who killed him is caught and brought to justice.
Chris, I just want to write and thank you for this post. Regardless of all the discussion about helmet/no-helmet it’s important to realize that a cyclist was hit and that the driver did not stop. These type of people need to be rooted out of our city. I started at Bazaarvoice the day Andrew died and it’s truly sad that he had so much life left to live and the person who took it away didn’t even have the self-respect and integrity to stop.
Joah
Tom, I am sorry for your loss and I hope you sue the City of Austin for putting this dangerous road on the official city bicycle map. My post from another website:
I thought a lot about Andy on my ride yesterday and how someone unfamiliar with Austin might find themselves following the recommended bike ways as provided by the city map. Lamar is one such road (Route #43), that like many “bikeways” have sections with a dedicated bike lane in certain sections and then a sign that says “Bike Lane Ends” at random points on the route. These signs make me so mad because, where are you supposed to go as a cyclist when you encounter these signs in the middle of a road?
Austin, the city, likes to toot it’s horn about being bike friendly and I’m sure the city gets a lot of revenue from this. Be it tourist, people who move here because of the consistently high “bikeablility” rating nationally, bicycle retailers and of course the numerous bike tour and bike rental companies.
I would encourage Andrew’s family to sue the city for negligence. The situation on Lamar is a joke. It is one of the few North-South corridors for vehicular traffic AND it is supposed to be a bike thoroughfare as well?
Without a dedicated bike lane from top to bottom Lamar is a deathtrap for cyclist.
Either the city needs to complete the bike lane or take it off the official City of Austin Bicycle Map. Until something is done, Andrew is just going to be another number on stats of cyclist run down because of misleading information the city is spreading via this map.
Why do these riders insist on riding on sw pkwy or red bud or any other street that leaves no room for error? Take your bike to bike paths ! I’m sick of riders popping up out of winding / dark roads and then cause deaths or injury and blame cars that are on roads made for vehicles that roads are made for! Jeesh, go to the paths where we are go for bike rides . I’d never ride on these bz streets .
Actually, Wakeup,
Roads aren’t just for motor vehicles. That kind of mentality is a problem out there on the streets.
I think an important change could be simply brought about in education. Driver’s Ed courses should include information about bicycle laws and safety. I know that when I took driver’s ed decades ago, they never once mentioned bicycles or any other vehicles sharing the road.
I hear so many misinformed people saying that roads are for cars only and that kind of mentality does nothing but foster disrespect for other vehicles out on the road.
Maybe we should all kind of wake up.
there are no tricks or rules set rules i may add for bike safty conditions are never the same that fit in with safty tips. as a set rule. you have to use your head. and there is no garentee that you will be safe by following tips and tricks like there is no set rules the state of mind from the driver in the car behind you. your just a number that did not get it yet in fact its just a mater of time.. hey.. i am 69 rode a bike all my life and there is nuthing anyone can tell me thats new. no mater what you do and how hard you try you are still a target that dident get it yet. and remember this.. out of all the time and cars that safely passed you from behing. it only takes one to send you to never never land. i dont know about you but i dont want to meet that one. when i ride a bike its.. am i sure. if not then i dont do it.. is it rush hour.. if it is i dont ride.. and if i have to i ride on the sidewalk and risk a ticket but ill be alive. the whole thing sucks because car and drivers dont follow rules all the time even if you do. thats why there are bike deaths. you have to use your head and listen to a feeling you get
Most important quote from cyclehelmets.org - since the thing above went into moderation:
“If cycle helmets are effective in reducing head injuries, and in particular if the more optimistic predictions for their effectiveness are true, then it is reasonable to expect to see a reduction in head injuries (relative to cycle use) across the whole population of cyclists where helmet use has become common. However, there is no whole population data from anywhere in the world to confirm these predictions.”
(they go on to report the many studies of population data from all over the world that, in fact, contradict those predictions).
http://cyclehelmets.org/1052.html
(hoping this one goes through due to only one link)
Heh. M1KE, you are totally my favorite! I have a total forum-crush on you.
I love how statistical studies weigh much heavier to you than the laws of physics.
~N
Natchet, if you want to talk physics, they have a LOT of physics on that cyclehelmets.org site.
Motorcycle helmets might be big enough to help in bicycle crashes - but bike helmets don’t have enough there to help you. So why didn’t they try to get cyclists to wear motorcycle helmets? Pretty obvious; they figured out what the minimum was they could get cyclists to wear and went with it without bothering to figure out whether it was enough to be worth the disincentives to riding, risk compensation, and other negative effects.
Again, when the population results contradict the claims made in a case-control study, there’s something seriously wrong. If helmets work even a tenth as well as claimed, you should be able to see some improvement in the population at large, yet you never do. Were this a prescription drug, even our pansy FDA would be pulling it from the market.
M1EK,
You already said all of that. Again and again and again. And you absolutely are ignoring physics. And common sense as well. You are also ignoring your own studies and others. Read them.
Then post back.
~N